Moistening device



at, E, 1935. E. w. PIKE, SR

MOISTENING DEVICE Filed Jan. 31, 1934 n T E MW m VP 0 m. n WM E. w Ev B Patented Oct. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES MOISTENING DEVICE Eugene W. Pike, Sr., Arlington, N. J. Appiication January 31, 1934, Serial No. 709,084

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a moistening device or the like which may be employed individually or used in connection with other types of sealing apparatus.

It is an object of the invention to provide an article of this character which is relatively simple in construction and which will function over long periods of time with freedom from mechanical difliculty.

Another object is to provide a moistener in which the moistening element is subject to adjustment so that the device may be adapted to the various needs of the user.

A further object is that of providing an article of this type which is steady and relatively immovable. so that it may be used without danger of tipping.

Still another object is that of providing a moistener which employs a moistening element of unusual width without the usual bunching of that element after periods of sustained use.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, illustrating one embodiment of the invention and in which Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines |--l in the direction of the arrows, as shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the moistener with the cover member removed;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the open end of the cover member showing the guide in place, and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the completely assembled moistener.

In these several views a container body I0 is provided with a base wall or collar portion I I. In each of the four corners of this base are secured pins 12 over which are positioned resilient pad members l3. These pads may be made of rubber or other suitable material of a cushioning and non-marring nature and are preferably formed with a hollow central portion I4 and a concave lower surface l5. This latter lends a vacuum cup effect to the members and is extremely helpful in preventing accidental displacement of the device once it has been placed on a surface. To increase the steadiness of the device and lower itscenter of gravity, the in-- terior of the body portion is lowered as at IE to a point substantially equal to that of the bottom of the base member I I.

Positioned on the floor of the interior of the body portion are abutments H, which in the preferred embodiment here illustrated are two in number. It is, however, apparent that in the place of the two separate abutments here shown,

PATENT OFFIE substance through which a liquid would be drawn by capillary attraction. As shown in Fig. 4, the moistening element may be of considerable width and rests adjacent its upper end against one side edge of the container body to prevent a bunching or gathering together of the moistening element during use. This edge of the container body may be provided with a series of teeth or gripping members 25, as shown in Fig. 2. These teeth press against the moistening element when it is in position and prevent sidewise movement of the same.

A cover 2| for cooperation with the container body is provided with downwardly extending side edges 22 which cooperate with the-side walls of the body portion and hold the cover against accidental displacement. The cover is likewise provided with an opening through which the moistening element may project and, as shown in Fig. 3, the. edge of the cover portion adjacent said moistening element may likewise be provided with teeth or gripping elements 23 which are in staggered relationship to the teeth formed along the top edge of the container wall. These two sets of teeth cooperate with each other in engaging the moistening element and thus securely lock it in position against sidewise displacement. Secured to the above the edge of the opening through which the moistening element emerges, is a guide plate 24 which is spaced vertically from the top surface of the cover to a slight degree and is also curved so as to present a convex under-surface. This plate is so designed as to hold the article to be moistened, such, for example as an envelope flap, in close contact with the moistening element as the article is drawn across the latter.

In operation, water or any other suitable liquid is placed in the container body as represented at 25 in Fig. 1, it being noted that the container body may be formed of a transparent material or with a transparent window portion so that the level of the liquid within the body portion is visible at all times to the operator. The moistening element is placed in the container with its lower end resting against that side of the container opposite the wall against which the upper end rests, as represented by the solid lines cover and positioned in Fig. 1. The liquid is immediately carried up through the moistener by means of capillary attraction so that the entire element becomes saturated with it. The envelope flap or other article to be moistened is then placed under the guide plate with its gummed across the upper end of the moistening element, thus securing an even coating of the liquid carried by the moistening element. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover is placed on a slightly inclined plane with its highest edge adjacent the moistening element, as shown in Fig. 1. This allows an easier and more natural path of travel for the article to be moistened, thereby avoiding any undue strains on the same.

After continuous operation for some period of time, the moistening element may become worn and thus reduced in length to such a degree that it no longer functions efficiently. With this in mind, the lower end of the element may be positioned against the *abutments I! so that the element takes the position shown by the dotted lines 26' in Fig. 1. In this way the useful life of the element will be greatly lengthened. It is, of course, apparent that adjustment by this means may be effected by positioning a plurality of abutments ll at intervals across the bottom of the container body so that instead of having one adjustment as here shown, several adjustments might be effected. Also it is desirable for certain types of work, as for example the moistening of the fingers in counting currency or paper as resorted to by bank tellers and the like, that the moistening end extend to a greater. extent surface down and drawn than is desirable in sealing envelopes. When the device is put to such use, the lower end of the moistening element will be initially positioned against the abutment l1 and will thereupon extend sufficiently to meet the requirements of the user.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and different embodiment of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A moistening device including a container body to receive moistening liquid, said body presenting a substantially uninterrupted inner and upper edge portion and a lower surface, a moistening element having its base disposed within such container and supportable by the lower surface of the latter at a point substantially opposite such edge of the container, the body of said element being self-sustaining and of a length such as to extend diagonally through the body of the container in contact with such edge portion of the latter and upwardly beyond such edge portion, and supporting means associated with said container whereby such element may be shifted to assume a more inclined position with its body still in contact with such edge portion and with its base shifted to a point nearer such edge portion.

EUGENE W. PIKE, SR. 

